Early childhood support for remote children and families

Early childhood support can be accessed through:

• education and learning programs
• child and family centres.

Read more below for more information and to find a suitable service.

Families as First Teachers (FaFT)

Families as First Teachers (FaFT) is a program that helps parents and carers support their children's learning and development.

The core elements of the FaFT program are:

• parent capacity building
• quality child and family-centred learning
• community engagement.

What FaFT provides

FaFT provides:

• an evidence-based program that is child and family centered
• access to books and games for home use that promote meaningful interactions between adults and children
• parenting support on child nutrition, health, hygiene, development and wellbeing
• guidance to prepare your child for school and support smooth transitioning to preschool
• child development screening and support to access early intervention.

You can access the program in remote schools and in some urban locations.

Community contacts

For more information, contact your closest FaFT program in the table below.

FaFT sites currently delivering a program as of 5 June 2026:

FaFT Stay Play Learn

FaFT Stay Play Learn (FaFT-SPL) programs provide communities with a quality early learning program, while embedding parent capacity building, around the early years of child development and learning.

Children and their families from birth to 5 years of age are welcome to attend. Family members will need to be present for all children who are not preschool aged.

Children of preschool age are eligible to attend FaFT-SPL without a family member.

For more information, contact your closest FaFT Stay Play Learn program.

FaFT-SPL sites currently delivering a program as of 5 June 2026:

Child and family centres

Child and family centres support children and their families from pre-birth to age 8.

Centres are located near or in schools to give easy access for families.

These centres are a single point of contact for families to connect with government and non-government services that provide support, including:

• early childhood education and development
• health and wellbeing
• family and parenting support
• community and cultural engagement
• referrals to other services.

Child and family centres support families and communities so that every child can grow up strong, healthy and safe, with the best possible start in life.

For more information, contact your closest child and family centre below.

Each of these centres is operated by the Department of Education and Training.

They employ an Integrated Services Leader and an Aboriginal Community Coordinator who works with parents, schools and the local community.

Contacts